赞扬改变一切

t was the end of my exhausting first day as a waitress in a busy New York restaurant. My cap had gone awry， my apron was stained， and my feet ached. The loaded trays I carried felt heavier and heavier. Weary and discouraged， I didnt seem able to do anything right.

As I made out a complicated check for a family with several children who had changed their ice-cream order a dozen times， I was ready to quit.

Then the father smiled at me as he handed me tip. “Well done，” he said， “youve looked after us really well.” Suddenly my tiredness vanished. I smiled back， and later， when the manager asked me how Id liked my first day. I said， “Fine！” Those few words of praise had changed everything.

在纽约一家生意兴隆的餐馆做女招待的第一天就要结束了，我感到筋疲力尽。我的帽子歪了，围裙上污迹斑斑，双脚疼痛难忍，手上端的盛着食物的托盘感觉越来越重。我既疲倦又沮丧，似乎什么事情都没能干好。

一个有好几个小孩的家庭正在用餐，他们点冰激凌时换来换去十几次，就在为他们开好复杂的账单后，我准备辞职不干了。

这时，那位父亲一边把小费递给我，一边对我微笑。“干得不错。”他说，“你把我们照顾得真周到。”顿时，我倦意全无。我对他也报以微笑。后来，经理问我第一天上班的感觉如何，我说：“好极了！”那几个赞美之词改变了一切。endprint